VALORANT agent Iso’s ability kit early review: Reyna but actually useful

Iso is arguably the most interesting and potentially meta-altering new agent arrival in VALORANT since Chamber—and easily the most captivating new duelist addition. But it’s not because of the one-vs-one isolated “Gulag” ultimate that drew the community’s eye.

This is a very early review and deep dive into Iso’s kit as a whole, and I’m solely working with gameplay footage from content creators who got to try the agent out early. When it comes to potential pro play usage, I predict Iso will be limited because teams aren’t going to want to swap out duelists like Jett or Raze because of the entry value they provide, and it’ll be hard to justify using Iso as a flex agent instead of someone like KAY/O, Skye, or a secondary controller.

In competitive play, though, Iso will be a popular choice and a viable one, too. This is because as a whole, Iso’s ability kit isn’t just similar to Reyna’s style, but it’s an upgrade to Reyna’s kit overall.

Iso’s abilities, reviewed

Double Tap

Iso’s signature ability, Double Tap, is ripped right out of an Aim Labs routine, and both encourages and rewards players for swinging and overheating. Instantly, it draws comparisons to Reyna’s Devour/Dismiss plays that favor aggressiveness, tailor-made for players who want to swing and those who can’t help but overheat.

While most duelists have kits that emphasize either maneuverability or escapability, Double Tap outfits Iso as more of a tank with an itchy trigger finger—someone who can eat a Raze ult or an Op shot if they’re shielded. But there are some serious drawbacks: If Iso isn’t given an opening duel, he doesn’t have the chance to get his shield. Even when he is shielded, there’s not much he can do to break a crossfire setup as an entry, unlike Jett, Raze, or even Neon or Yoru.

Like with Reyna, Iso’s Double Tap shines brightest in one-vs-X situations, letting him punish enemy teams who are foolish enough to challenge him one-on-one. Plus, he has the added benefit of being able to tank a big piece of damage for the team.

Undercut

There’s not as much to say about Undercut. Undercut works a lot like Omen’s Paranoia as it can pass through walls and deter enemy agents from being aggressive or swinging. Rather than hitting opponents with Nearsight, though, it makes them Vulnerable.

On its own, Undercut is a decently useful piece of utility. On defense, you can fire it at a chokepoint when you expect a site execute is coming, and it’s got a lot of combo potential on the attacking side. Pair Undercut with a flash, stun, or even better a damage-dealing ability like a grenade or Shock Dart, and the defenders hit by it are going to be in big trouble.

Contingency

Forget the Kill Contract ultimate, Contingency is the most useful piece of utility in Iso’s kit.

On the attacking side, Contingency might be one of the best abilities in the game at creating space. By firing the shield forward and filing behind it, the attacking team can quickly move up long corridors like B Long on Pearl, C Long on Haven, and A Main on Lotus. Any narrow angle just gets completely shut off, and attackers who stay close get an extra advantage with its curved edges.

On defense, it can be a really viable tool for retakes, especially if you’re trying to get a last-second defuse. Contingency can shut off one of the narrow angles, providing cover for a defuse and limiting the number of spots you can be killed from.

Kill Contract

Finally, we come to Kill Contract, Iso’s ultimate where he fires a Breach/Fade-like wave that catches the first enemy it contacts and pulls them into a one-vs-one duel inside an interdimensional arena.

Arguably, its best use is negating opposing ultimates as pulling an enemy into the arena will suppress their abilities, although you can still keep your Double Tap shield. Hear Raze or Sova pop their ultimates, fire the Kill Contract column, take it out of commission, and maybe get a kill for yourself. It can also be the catalyst for a massive emotional momentum shift, with a team rallying around a one-vs-one win while the other team’s mental crumbles.

Final verdict

We’re probably not going to see Iso break into the top two among duelists, but I think he’s going to be a major player in competitive play for many acts to come.

Not only can he be a momentum shifter for players with hot aim, but his Contingency and Undercut abilities can really combo well with another initiator and duelist, making for well-coordinated executes and retakes at breakneck speed at the higher ranks. Even if your Iso teammate isn’t hitting shots, he can make space and make enemies Vulnerable, which is more than can be said for a Reyna on their off day.

This could all change after his release, but for now, Iso is poised to be a fun addition to the meta that is going to be a big hit with major VALORANT streamers and competitive grinders.